Canada Employment Guide

Canada is in North America, bordering Atlantic (east), Pacific (west), US (south) and Arctic Circle (north), with ~38 million people. English and French are official; Ottawa is capital. Its service-led economy has strong finance, tech, energy and manufacturing. Labor laws (federal+provincial) protect wages (paid weekly/biweekly, min wage provincial) and 40hrs/week (overtime paid). Laws stipulate paid annual/sick/maternity leave, promoting a fair, flexible labor market.

Check recruitment costs

Currency

Canadian Dollar (CAD, $)

Capital

Ottawa

Official language

English and French

Salary Cycle

Weekly, Biweekly

Our Employment Guide in Canada

Browse the following tags to learn all about hiring employees in Canada

Optimizing the Employee Onboarding Process

From an international HR perspective, establishing a streamlined onboarding procedure is critical for organizational efficiency and compliance. A common practice we recommend is scheduling contract signing after the official start date, allowing for proper preparation and verification.

Standard Onboarding Timeline

The complete onboarding cycle typically requires one full business day following the acceptance of the Statement of Work (SOW). This timeframe ensures all administrative requirements are properly addressed while maintaining regulatory compliance across different jurisdictions.

Global Implementation Considerations

Companies like SailGlobal have successfully implemented this approach across multiple countries, demonstrating its effectiveness in diverse regulatory environments. The delayed contract signing allows HR teams to verify documentation completeness and conduct necessary background checks without delaying the employee's integration into the team.

Key Benefits of Structured Onboarding

Enhanced compliance with local labor regulations
Reduced administrative errors through proper verification
Improved employee experience through systematic integration
Standardized processes across global operations

Hire easily in Canada

Compare employee hiring costs across over 100 countries worldwide, helping you accurately calculate labor costs. Try it now

Cost Calculator

Please select the country/region you wish to recruit from, and the calculation can be done with just a few clicks.